Weather forecast could be a concern
Firefighters in Spokane, Washington, are making progress against wildfires that have destroyed hundreds of structures and forced mass evacuations. Officials warn that upcoming dry and windy weather could increase the risk of new fire activity.
Why it matters
The incident underscores the ongoing threat of wildfires in the Pacific Northwest and the strain on emergency response resources.
Firefighters battling three blazes in the Spokane, Washington, area that have destroyed homes and forced tens of thousands to flee have made gains in containing the wildfires as they entered their fifth day.
Some 65,000 people were ordered to evacuate. An estimated 600 to 1,100 structures have been damaged or destroyed. Over 10,500 acres have been burned. On Wednesday, fire officials said some containment had finally been made in the blazes.
Fire officials said in their latest update that they were making "steady progress" as a spell of better weather helped efforts, but warned that drier and warmer conditions were on the way, increasing the potential for embers to get caught in wind and start new fires.
"It feels like a bad dream," Claire Shover, 27, told USA TODAY after learning her home burned down. "I think we’re still a bit numb right now."
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